Lift truck



Sept. 20, 1932. w. STUEBING. .JR

LIFT TRUCK Original Filed April 2l, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Sept. 20, 1932.

W. STUEBING, JR

LIFT TRUCK Original Filed April 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KN NN Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED srarss' WILLIAM srIrEsINe, JR., or CINCINNATI, oI-IIo LIFT TRUCK `Application.led April 21, 1928, Serial Thisfinventionv relates to lift trucks. It is yan object of the invention to provide a truck which shall be simple and inexpensive ,i -to manufacture, which shall be durable and `G capable of withstanding the rough treatment to which such trucks are customarily subjected which shall be capable of operation from the side as well as from the front of the truck, and which shall incorporate certain safety 10 features ldesigned to protect the operator from injury.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionV willV appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention 15 selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view. Figure 21s a side elevation. p Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the 20 forward end'of the truck showing the elevating frame partially elevated.

Figure 4 `is a similar view showing the elevating frame completely elevated.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 4, and Figure 6 a detail on the line 6--6 of Figure 5 illustratingV onel form of latch or detent means for releasably holding the elevating frame in raised position.

Referring to the drawings, the truck com- '339 prises a main frame 1 and an elevating frame 2 pivotally mounted thereon by means of links 8 and 4 arranged respectively near the front and rear ends of the truck. As will I be observed, when the elevating frame is in 35 its lowermost position 'the links 3 and 4 are inclined forwardly, so that the elevating frame moves rearwardly andlupwardlywhile approaching its elevated position. The lower part ofthe steering head carries the wheels 8 ""0 which support the forward end of the truck while the rear end of the truck is supported on wheelsv 9. Y

Mounted on the forward end of the main frame is a swivelled steering head 5 carrying 45 a fork 6 upon which ispivotally mounted the steeringv tongue 7 y Y Near the forward end ofthe elevating frame 2 is secured a cross vpiece 10 having a pair of forwardly projecting members 11 upon which are pivotally mounted a pair of -bell gage the lug 18 and will remain in engagement No. 271,784. neneweavrune 12, 1s31.

kcranks 12. One arm 13 of each of the bell Vwhich is adapted to cooperate with the transverse groove 17 of the hook member for liftv43,70 ing purposes as hereinafter described. Mounted on the elevating frame 2 is a lug 18 which` is adapted to cooperate with a latch member 19 j which is pivotally mounted on the main frame. The said latch member is g5 preferably provided with a treadle 20 for convenience in operation. As willbe apparent, when the elevating frame is raised as illustrated in Figure 4, the latch 19 will ento hold the frame inelevated position until released by depression of the treadle 20.

TWhen it is desired to raise the elevating frame, the tongue is swung upwardly'and the hook 15 is swung forwardly by hand into; en- Z5 gagement with the ball 16 as illustratedin Figure 2. The tongue 7` is then `swung downwardly, and, as illustrated in Figure 3, the bell cranks 12 swing about the pivots 21, thus causing the elevating frame to be thrust rearwardly and upwardly. As-will be observed, the direction of thrust which is transmitted to the elevating frame is along the line lconnecting the pivots 21 and 22, so that, as illustratedin Figure 2, the direction of thrust atk `35 the beginning of elevating movement is in substantially the same direction as themovement of the frame. Furthermore, as the elevating frame, due to its pivoted connection with the main frame, begins to move rearwardly, as well as upwardlyythe direction of thrust, as illustrated in Figures 3 and '4, is also inclined rearwardly, so that to some extent, the direction of thrust changes and follows the direction of movement ofthe elei vating frame. This feature is of advantage in securing smooth and easy lifting action.

When the elevating frame is completely raised, the lug 18 is engaged bythe latch 19 and the vframe is thus'retained in raised position until the latch is released. InA order that the descent of the frame may be retarded, a hydraulic check 23 ofany suitable design may be secured to the elevating fra-me and miA less of whether it is turned to right or left varms that when the elevating frame is in lowermost position and the hook is swung for- Lwardly, by any suitable means, as by hand in Vthe illustrated embodiment its center of gravity will lie forwardly of thepivots 26 and it will therefore remain in engagement with the ball.

On the other hand, during the raising of the frame the pivot 26 moves forwardly to a point in front of the center of gravity of the hook so that after the elevating frame is raisedy and the tongue 71 is swung upwardly -to a. position'for pulling the truck, the hook will fallbackward, as illustrated in Figure 4, out of engagement with the ball where it remains-until it is again swung forwardly.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that when; the tongue is in vertical position the ball'16 lies substantially in the axis of the steering head,so that regardless of the steeringV position of the tongue,that is, regard'- of normal straight forward postion,-the ball will be in position for engagement by the Y.so

As the-tongue is swung downwardly the vball moves .out of the aXis of the steering head, but the groove 17 is of suiicient width to permit transverse sliding movement of the permitting so-called side lift operation. 'It will be understood that the invention ball without causing disengagement, thus "mounted thereon for upward and rearward movement with respect thereto, al steering head mounted on said main Vframe, a steering 'tongue Apivotally mounted on lsaidsteering head, a bell crank pivotally mounted onA said Velevating frame, a Ihook -pivoted to one arm -of said bell crank and adapted to enga-ge said steering tongue, and a link pivotally connected to the other arm of said bell crank and pivotally connected to said main frame.

2. In a lift truck, in combination, agmain frame, an elevating frame pivotally mounted thereon for vertical and longitudinal move- :ment with respect thereto, a4 steering head mounted on said main frame, a steering tongue pivotally mounted on said'steering head, said steering tongue being provided with a rearward extension terminating in a member having substantially vertical movement, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said elevating frame, -a hook pivotally connected to said bell crank'and'adapted toengage said member, and a second link pivotally connected to said bell crank and to said main frame.

3.. In alift truck, .in combination, a main fr'ame,ran elevating frame mounted for upward and rearward movement with respect thereto, a link operatively interposed between said frames,a steering head mounted on said main frame, a steering tongue vpivotally mounted on said-steering head,and means operative independentlyof said link and providing lifting connections'between saidv tongue and elevating frame adapted to apply lifting thrust to said-frame in substantially the direction of movement thereof.

4. In a -life truck, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame mounted for upward and rearward movement with respect thereto,va link operatively interposedbetween said frames, asteering head mounted on said main frame, -a steering tongue pivotally mounted on said steering head, and'means operative independentlyV of said link and providing liftingconnections betweenv` `,said tongue and elevatingframe adaptedrtoapply lifting thrust to'said frame ina substantially vertical direction at thebeginning of lifting movement but ina direction constantly shifting in the directionl of movement of said elevating frame as lifting movement continues.

5. f In a lifting truck, the combination of a main frame, an elevating frame, a toggle comprising a link pivotally connected to the main frame, and a rocking member fulcrumed on the elevating frame and pivotally connected with said linka steering tongue, and means V'coooerative with said steering tongue to raise sai rocking member bodily vwith said elevating frame. i

6. In a lifting` truck, the combination of a main frame, an lelevating frame, a toggle comprising a link-pivotally connected to the mainV frame, and a rocking member fulcrumed on the elevating frame and pivotally connected with said link, a steering tongue, andl means releasably engageable with said steering tongue to raise said rocking member bodily with said elevating frame. f

7. In. a lifting truck, the combination of a main frame, an elevating. frame,- a toggle comprising a link pivotally c onnectedfto the main frame, and a rocking member Vfulcrumed on` theelevatingframe and having a forwardly extending arm and a rearwardly extending arm pivotally connected withsaid link, a steering tongue, and means pivotally connected with said forwardly extendingV arm and cooperative with said steering tongue to raise said rocking member bodily with said elevating frame.

8. In a lifting truck, the combination of a main frame, an elevating frame, a toggle comprising a link pivotally connected to the main frame, and arooking member fulcrumed on the elevating frame and having a forwardly extending arm and a rearwardly extending arm pivotally connected to said link, a steering tongue, and means pivotally connected with said forwardly extending` arm and releasably engageable with said steering tongue to raise said rocking member bodily with said elevating frame.

9.k In a lifting truck, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame carried thereby, a vertically swinging steering lever, y a toggle'connecting said main and elevating frames and adapted when straightened, to lift said elevating frame, and means for straightening said toggle by operation of the steering lever comprising a toggle actuating link associated with said toggle and normally separated from the steering lever and having a portion thereof adapted for engagement With said steering lever for operation thereby in any usual steering position of the same.

10. In a lifting truck, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame carried thereby, a steering head mounted on said main frame, a steering tongue pivotally mounted on said steering head and having a portion thereof moving substantially in the axis of the steering head during vertical reciprooation of said tongue, a toggle connecting said main and elevating frames and adapted, when straightened, to lift said elevating frame and means for straightening said toggle by operation of the steering lever comprising a toggle actuating link associated with said toggle and normally separated from the steering tongue and having a portion movable substantially into the axis of said steering head for operative engagement with the steering tongue in any usual steering position of the same.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specilication this 18th day of April, 1928.

WILLIAM STUEBING, JR. 

